Flow regulator, pressure relief valve and the like



y 1952 R. E. KRUEGER, m 2,598,274

FLOW REGULATOR, PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE AND THE LIKE File d Jan. 19, 1945 l atented May 27, 1952 FLOW REGULATOR, PflEfiSUItE RELIEF' VALVE AND THE LIKE museums; Ki'ueger, III; Dwn'ey; Calif. Application January 19, 1945, Serial No. sva'gs'oe (oi. s's Ls') 11 Claims. 1tv

This invention relates to. pressure relief valves; and" the like; for controlling thecommunication" between two compartments, one a low pressure and"theother'a highpressure comp'artment. is the production"of"asimple"'and eflioient means for controlling th'e pressure difierential between such compartments.

Another object" of this invention is the pro duction of a" pressure" relief valve" constructed tomaintain" a" sealed port until the" prescribed pressure diiferentia'l is" reached, and to then abruptlit'op'en the port" to the opening required to prevent the pressure in" the high pressure chamber from exceeding" the above mentioned prescribedpressure difierentialfi up to the canes ityofthev'alve.

Other objeets and advantages of the present invention will appear" throughoutthe following specifications and" claims;

Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view illustratin'g the pressure-relief valve:

Figure? is a'top' plan" View thereof, certain parts being-shownifrsection-y Figure-'3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view-illustratinganiodified' type of diaphragm valve:

One of .the objectsof this invention B'vreferring' tothe drawings, it'will be seen I that I II designates thewa'lve" casing illustrated in Figure-1, having airflow openings" II in lth'e side portions thereof. The casing l0is'"proVi'ded with an annular recess;inwhich is fixedarubber ring or other suitablew'a'lve"seatinember" I3. The easing" lflis also provided with" anannular opening I 4-located new the" openings I I The casing l 0 is preferablvsecure'd' to the 'conven tionalpressure bulkhead I5 shown in dotted lines=in Figure 1' bvmeans" ofbolts'" l6. These bolts I6 also secure the-bottompIate "lot the casing I 0" in place, as shown also in Figure 1. The bolts 16"- carryoollars "lawhich space the bottom praise I I ffomthe; upper portion of the casing; thereby defining'theopenin'g or low" pressurecompartment HI at"th'e peripherywfthe easing Ill.

Communication betweeen the openings H and I4 is controlled by a diaphragm valveinoluding a---fixible diaphragm the periphery of which inaneh-ored under'the collars" I8. The" dia phragm valve"includes"a central valve portion, reinforced by disc's'ZB' and 2| between which the central portion of the dia hragm is "clamped. These discs may be made of springs flexible metal. The"disc'20"fhnctions as a valve closure 2 element and is of siliffi'cient size to" contact the valve' seat' ring I3 to" establish" the"cl'o"se' i' position of the valve; The dist: -2'Iis of sufiici'er'it size to" contaetthe bottom plate I I adjacent" the periphery of 'the"di'sc '2 I when the valve"isin" an open position. Whenso constructed"thesedises 20 andZfI wilI shield tireiap ragm" I9" against wear when" contactingtne ring I3 orbbttoni plate I1. g g I The bottom" plate" I! is" providewwitn a" pilot valve port '22" at the entertnereor; in Whien is fitteda valve seat'23'. A" pilot'valvesternflis carried within the" casing: III and" is provided with a dependingend 25"Whi'c h' is"reduedin size rel'ativ'e tothe' st'en'i'il and is "provided" with a shoulder '26 which iim'ctionsns afp'ilot' valve and isa'dapted"toseatupjoh the pilot valve seat 23am closeth'e' p'ormz. 4 The stem" 24"isp'fd} vicled. with'a" longitudinalble'ed passageway21 having an opening" 28 near the bottom thereof to communicatefvv'ith a" control chamber" III which" is defined" between" the "diaphragm" valve I 9 -2 I and thvbott'om plate I 1." The 'ste ni24 isalso provided. withan' Opening"! 9 which pro vid es'f communication between the upper end of the" assageway 21 and" the high ressure compartment' I 0* within 'j the: asing. I 0" located above the diaphragm" I91 The diaphragm I9 carriesa central slid'able" sealing collar 30 which fits around ahd' is slideablymounte upon the stem '24; A sealinglgasketis carried by th'ecol 1ar30,1a's'shown.

The upper"end of the stem 2 4 "supports "a' spring bellows 3|; Tnepassageway} 2T 'is'f'saled from the interior of the'benowsal, Thrstenows 3| is pref rably[construeteoor sheet metal 'orother fiexiblen'iaterial similar to" the" bellows of a thermostat or ane'roid "barometer." The beuows 3i is connected wan "upwardly extending hollow'stein '32, which stem is externally threaded and is'ladjust'ablyseoured"to"the "top of the easmg mbymeans or a"nip'15le33, the nipple s3 being co neetea-to "oneend or a tube leading to fthe iovv pressore "side "bey the bulkhead I35 seeFi'gure 1." c nsequemiyyme bell0ws'3l will be subj eetedto' lov'v" piessiirewithin', and to high ressure without, thilis tending to collapse the bellows; The pressiirehifferentialrequired to operate the valve" stem 24 and move the shoulder" as on and" on" the seat" 23, may be changedjoifl adjusting the stein Withifi-- the nipple "33 to varY'th tension on the spiing bellows "3 I.- An' xpansioneon spiirig gii-l5' "surrounds the low'erendof'the stem 24 andre'sts upon the bottom-"plate n within the control chamber lo The upper end of the spring 35 supports the central portion of the diaphragm valve l92l near the collar 30 and normally exerts pressure upwardly. This allows the valve [9-21 to remain closed normally even when the pressure differential across the pressure bulkhead is 0.

A bellows lifting plate 36 is yieldably hung from the casing H! by means of the suspending bolts 31. A lifting connection 38 is carried by one of the bolts 31 and this connection 38 may be secured to any suitable lifting device.

In Figure 3, there is shown a modified type of diaphragm valve wherein a bellows-like valve I9 is anchored to the plate ll by means of bolts Mi The valve l9 is preferably formed of rubber or other flexible material and is provided with an inner reinforcing disc 2i and an outer disc 20, the edge of the disc 2! extending under that portion of the valve Is which contacts the rubber valve seat ring I3 and the disc 20 terminating short of the ring l3 thereby providing a rubber to rubber contact between the ring l3 and the valve 19 The diaphragm valve is preferably made of neoprene rubber,

but it may be made of any flexible material including metal, metal being preferable for high pressure valves. The side walls of the bellowslike valve Is are Z-shaped in cross section, as shown in Figure 3. Attention is directed to the fact that the flexible bellows 19* extends beyond the outer circumference of the plate 21 thus insuring that a free annular edg of the rubber bellows 19 will be outermost with relation to the rubber ring w provide a flexible rubber lip resting against the ring l3 and being free to flex independently of the plate 2P. In cases therefore when solid particles are entrapped between faces of members l9 and l3 the free material of the member [9 will conform to the solid particle and will prevent leakage through the valve.

While the present device may be particularly used for regulating and relieving pressure within airplane cabins, the device may be used in any structure where pressure is to be regulated or controlled upon opposite sides of a bulkhead, such as the bulkhead I shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. It should be noted that a pilot-controlled relief valve has the virtue of holding pressure without leakage to a predetermined value, then opening the valve abruptly to the full open position, thereby allowing the fluid, air, etc., under pressure to escape until the pressure is lower than the opening pressure, whereupon the valve l9 closes tightly without leakage.

This performance is in contrast to the erratic operation of a spring loaded poppet type of relief valve which requires further pressure to cause the valve to open to a greater extent. Pressure vessels such as an airplane pressure cabin equipped with this improved pressure relief valve structure will reduce the spread between the maximum operating pressure and the relief pressure. Since the device is power operated, in both open and closed positions, the pressure relief valve will be more positive in action than valves of other well known types. It should be understood that the valve l9-2l is held against the seat-ring l3 by means of the spring 35 until sufiicient pressure differential is built up to cause the valve 19 to become power operated.

This particular pressure relief valve design is equally suitable for vacuum relief when for any reason the pressure differential across the valve is reversed. When operating as a vacuum relief This construction will thus 4 valve, this valve is also power operated in a reverse manner and will relieve at a low pressure differential as the only force required is that needed to deflect the spring 35 and to flex the valve Iii-2i.

The operation of the various parts of the pressure relief valve is as follows (Ref.Figure l) The bellows 31 as stated above, is made of sheet metal or other flexible material, and the interior thereof communicates with the low pressure area 13, through the medium of the passageway 34. The bellows 3| is therefore subjected to low pressure from within by its communication with the area Ill and is subjected to high pressure without since the bellows is located in the high pressure compartment le Consequently, the bellows 3| will tend to collapse. The main valve l9-2l is normally held in a closed position by the spring 35, and high pressure, air or the like, which flows in through the opening or port 29, down through passageway 21 and into the control chamber W The fact that the pressure in chamber H1 is higher than that in compartment [9 furnishes the principal force that holds the valve normally closed. This valve element 23 is sealed in a closed position against the rubber ring 13, which provides a cushion valve seat.

When the bellows 3i collapses, however, the pilot valve 26 at the lower end of the stem 24 is lifted from the seat 23. This allows the high pressure air, etc, under the diaphragm l9 to escape from the control chamber 10* through the port 22 and the valve 19-21 is pushed to the open position shown in full lines in Figure 1, thereby bleeding the air out of the cabin with which the device is associated. When sufi'icient air has escaped to readjust the pressure differential, the bellows 3| expands, closing the pilot valve; and high pressure air flowing through ports 29 and 23 lifts the valve l9-2l to the closed position again, as shown in dotted lines in Fi ure 1. The pressure differential required to operate the diaphragm l9 may be changed by adjusting the spring tension on the bellows 3i through adjustment of the nipple 33 upon the stem 32. As stated above, manual means may be used and attached to the connection 38 for opening the valve 3-2! at the will of an operator. The valve may also be a vacuum relief valve, if desired, in its normal installation so that the valve will open as soon as there is a negative differential.

Operation under pressure differential less than predetermined relief pressure:

In describing the operation of the valve, it should be explained that the compartment l0 is bounded by the casing l0 and the central portion of the diaphragm valve |92i, within the seat !2. This compartment is vented to the high pressure area through ports H. Control chamber [6 is bounded by the bottom plate H and the entire lower side of diaphragm [9. The low pressure area. lil communicates through opening [4 with the peripheral portion of diaphragm 19 between valve seat [2 and the periphery of the diaphragm 13 where it meets bottom plate Power for sealing the valve l9-2l is obtained by fluid at cabin pressure flowing through the metering vent in the stem 24 from compartment Hi to the control chamber I0 and being eonfined in the control chamber 10*, the pressure in the control chamber 50* is equal to that in I0 but more than that in ID. The pressure in chamber to? times the effective area of lo is 5: more, thamthe; pressure at. l timessthe. area, at) llli- -pluathepressure l0 times the area at Illa andilihelt by p wer s provided for closing the valve] 9-21 Qneration under predetermined relief pressure;

When, relief pressure diiferentia-l is reached, the; bellows 3lbeing vented to low pressure through. tube 34 lifts the pilot valve 25 from its sea-t2}, As-the. pilot valve has a finite area, a force. Willbe; required to lift it from its seat 23, due. to the pressure diflerential existing across thebase; I1. This force will of necessity be supplied; by the contraction of the bellows 3|. This feat re will cause the pilotvalve to be moved farthen-than-a balanced amount due.- to; the fact thatithei pressure difierential on the. pilot. valveifi-lnoqlongerexists, Thus, the pilot. valve willgbe over-displaced, producing the final efiect on. the pressure. relief valve of opening at a: predetermined pressure and closing at a slightly lower pressure; this difierence may be controlled by the: area of; pilot; valve 26. The pressure inthe control chamber 10 then leaksout through the pilot; valve vent 22 faster than it canbe replenished, through the metering port 28. This actionreduces; orrenders negative the closing, pressure differential on the. valve 19-2! at which time; anunbalanced pressure. acts onthe valve 197-21.- therebyycausing the; valve le -2| to instantaneouslyand positively open, allowing the restrainedpressure, air, fluid, etc., to escape.

Operation, when pressure isreduced to a controllablezvaluez When:v the cabinpressure, or the pressure on one. side. of: the bulkhead I, drops to. the predetermined. value, the pressure sensitive bellows-3| expands, thereby, causing thepilot valve 26 to movejtoa closed position. Withair at the pilot valveclosed. the. metering vent in the stem 24: cp ickly supllliesthe chamber It with cabin pressure-which causes an unbalanced pressure differential acrosscthe;valve Ill-2|, thereby. causing thevalve; l9--2 I to close.-

IltshQuld be; noted, that the slideable. collar.

lim -which; fitsamundthestem 24 andv which. is.

carried. by the valve i92l carries a flexible sealing.- packing, preferably of felt, to allow angu lar; displacement. of the valve l9-2I without causinggabinding action upon thestemi l, while. at;the;same;timeprovidinga proper seal. Proper adjustment may be made by; turning thethreaded stemt lthrough the top of the casing 10, the stem 32: preferably having a swivel connection withthebellows- 3|. This stem 32 when, ad.- jpsted. may bealocked in a set position by the nipple; 33 which acts as a lock nut to permit.

theabellowsfil to operate at. the required pressure differential.

Having described the invention, what I claim as-newis;

1; A deviceofithe class describedv comprising a; casing.- said casing, having two pressure; compartmenta the pressure. in oneof thezcomparternentsgbein controlled. and. communicating: with agnorrnallyg high-pressure.v region, the. other. com..- nartment -.connecting. with a. relatively low pres.-

snre-region, a;;valve seat.lo.cated atthe junction. of: theicomnariments. a diaphragm valve. carried.

witbimthe; casing and adapted. to seat; uponzsaid. valve; seatto establishand interrupt communie oa-tiombetween; the normally. W and high .pressure regions; a'control. chamber. formed. by the -ianbragmwalve-zand;a.wall. .orthecasing; a. pilot; valve: independent: of said; diaphragm; valves for:

controlling thetnressure in; said controlledepress sure; compartment. with; r spect; to. a. reg-lam of lower: pressure and" normally sealing: the; control chamber;. a stem; for. said. pilot valve, said. stem; havin a passage providing; communication. beetween-.the.; high. pressure: re ion and: the controlv chamber independently of: the. pilot. valve; and; means for. automatically; opening; and; closing; the pilot valveindependently: of: the diaphragmivalye under predetermined pressure. conditionsa.

2, A: device of: the class; described comprising. a. casing. saidcasing having, two pressures 00.111? partments the pressure inone; of the. compa'rte ments 5 being, controlled and, communicating with anormallyhigh; pressure regiom. the; other corn-1- partment. communicating with a relatively love pressure region, a valve seat located at theeiunee tion-ofthe compartments, a diaphragm-'valvecarried-within the casing; and adaptediitoiseatupon said. valve seat. to. establishand interrupttcome munication between the normally high; and; low; pressure regions, a control chamber, for-medsbyz the diaphragm. valve-and. a. wall oithe. casing; a; pilot- .valveindependent; of; said? diaphragmvalve.

. for; controlling the. pressure in; said: controlled:

pressure compartmentv with respect. to; a. reg-ion: of lower pressure :and'; normally, sealing the con-- trol chamber, a stem; for the. pi1o.t.valve-,,,tha;stem: having. a. passage providing. communication. be tween the. high pressureregion and. the; control chamber. independently; of the pilot: valve; and: apressure responsive means engaging saidzstem; for. automatically opening: and; closing; said; pilot: valve under predetermined: pressure; conditions;

3-.- A;..device, of the class; described. comprising: a:,c.asing, said casing; having two; pressure; comepartments, b.1185 pressure; irrone-of the comparte mentsbeing. controlled; and communicating; a. normally high pressures region, .the 1 other com. par tment. connecting with a relatively low prose sure; region, a valve; seat; located at. the: tion: of; said... compartments. a;. diaphragm: valve. carried; within said; casing. and. adapted. to sea-ta upomsaidvalve seat. to. establish and: interrupt:- communication between the: normally high-sand; low pressure regions, a control chamber: formed by; the: diaphragm. valve; and a: .wall of. the. casing, a pilot -.valve;independent;of saiddiaphragmwalve: for. controlling the: pressureyinsaid .controlchanh her. by; controllingflow therefrom; to a regiongof; lower pressure. and. normally sealing-the; control. chambenx a. bellows within the: normally high? pressure region and connected; interiorlyl with-the" low pressure region, a. stem: connected: to. said bellows and carrying the? pilot valve, said; stemhaving a passage providing: communication: be tween the high pressure. region and the control; chamber: independently; of:v the. pilot. valve, said bellows constituting: means: for: automatically, opening and closing said: pilot valve independently of said diaphragm .valve under: predetere mined: pressure; conditions; and means for ad justingsaid bellows; for regulating the. opening; and closing-- of said pilotvalve relative;- to the pressure to. which said'i bellows is subjected;

l. A device of the classdescribed comprising a. casing, said casing having two -pressure-com-- partments, the pressure in one of the com-part? ments being controlled 1 and communicating" with a normally. high'ipressure region, the .otherrcom partment connecting with a relativelylow -pres sure, region, a. valve seat-located .at the junction ofisaidacompartmentaiatdiaphragmsvalvercarriedz within. said: casing: and adapted to: seat: upom saidivalveeseatto; establishaanduinterrnpzt comer munication between'the normally high and low pressure regions, a control chamber formed by the diaphragm valve and a wall of the casing, a bellows within the normally high pressure region, a pilot valve stem connected to said bellows, a pilot valve carried by said stem for controlling the pressure in said controlled pressure compartment with respect to said lower pressure region and normally sealing the control chamber, said stem having a passage providing communication between the high pressure region and the control chamber independently of the pilot valve, said bellows automatically opening and closing said pilot valve under predetermined pressure conditions, and means for supplying pressure from said low pressure region to the interior of said bellows.

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing, said casing having two pressure compartments, the pressure in one of the compartments being controlled and communicating with a normally high pressure region, the other compartment connecting with a relatively low pressure region, a valve seat located at the junction of said compartments, a diaphragm valve carried within said casing and adapted to seat upon said valve seat and establishing and interrupting communication between said normally high and low pressure regions, a control chamber formed by the'diaphragm valve and a wall of the casing, a pilot valve for controlling the pressure in said controlled pressure compartment and normally sealing the control chamber, a stem for the pilot valve having a passage providing communication between the high pressure region and the control chamber independently of the pilot valve, and a bellows disposed within the high pressure region and connected to the pilot valve stem for automatically opening and closing said pilot valve under predetermined pressure conditions, and means for supplying pressure from said low pressure region to the interior of said bellows, said bellows being attached to the casing and supporting said pilot valve stem, and said diaphrgam having a central collar slidably receiving said valve stem.

6. A device of the class described comprising a casing, said casing having two pressure compartments, the pressure in one of the compartments being controlled and communicating with a normally high pressure region, the other compartment connecting with a relatively low pressure region, a valve seat located at the junction of said compartments, a diaphragm valve carried within said casing and adapted to seat upon said valve seat, a control chamber formed by the diaphragm valve and a wall of the casing, a pilot valve for controlling the pressure in said control pressure compartment and normally sealing the control chamber, a stem for the pilot valve having a passage providing communication between the control chamber and the high pressure region independently of said pilot valve, a bellows disposed in the controlled pressure compartment, for automatically opening and closing said pilot valve under predetermined pressure conditions, manually operable means for independently opening said pilot valve irrespective of pressure conditions and means for supplying pressure from said low pressure region to the interior of said bellows.

7. A device of the class described comprising a casing, said casing having two pressure compartments, the pressure in one of the compartments being controlled and communicating with a normally high pressure region, the other compartment connecting with a relatively low pressure region, a valve seat located at the junction of said compartments, a diaphragm valve carried within said casing and having one side adapted to seat upon said valve seat, said one side having its area inwardly of said valve seat subjected to the pressure of said one compartment and having the area outwardly of said valve seat subjected to the pressure of said other compartment a control chamber disposed between the other side of the diaphragm valve and a wall of the casing, said other side of the diaphragm valve being subjected to control chamber pressure throughout its entire area a pilot valve stem extending centrally through the diaphragm valve for controlling the pressure in said controlled pressure compartment and normally sealing the control chamber and the diaphragm, a pilot valve carried by the stem, said stem having a passage providing communication between the control chamber and the high pressure region independently of the pilot valve, means for automatically opening and closing said pilot valve under predetermined pressure conditions, and means for adjusting the first mentioned means to vary the opening and closing of the pilot valve in relation to the pressure differential between said compartments.

8. A device of the class described comprising a casing, said casing having a high pressure compartment and a low pressure compartment, a valve seat located at the junction of said compartments, a diaphragm valve carried within said casing and adapted to seat upon said valve seat to interrupt communication between said compartments, a control chamber formed by the diaphragm valve and a wall of the casing, a pilot valve for relieving pressure from the control chamber and normally sealing the control chamber, a stem carrying said pilot valve having a passage providing communication between the control chamber and the high pressure compartment independently of the pilot valve, means for automatically opening and closing said pilot valve under predetermined pressure conditions, said stem extending through said diaphragm valve, a collar carried by the diaphragm valve, said collar having a compressible packing engaging the stem and siidable thereon for sealing the junction of the stem and diaphragm valve and permitting said diaphragm valve to tilt without binding upon said stem.

9. A device of the class described comprising a casing formed with three compartments, one compartment in direct communication with a high pressure region, another compartment in direct communication with a low pressure region and an intermediate pressure constituting a control chamber, a valve seat between the high and low pressure compartments, a diaphragm valve mounted in the casing and adapted to be moved from a full closed to a full open position by the fluctuations of pressure in the control chamber, the diaphragm valve and a wall of the casing forming the control chamber, a valve seat through said last named wall communicating with the low pressure region, a pilot valve for closing said seat, said pilot valve having a hollow valve stem extending through the valve diaphragm and through which pressure may pass freely from the high pressure compartment to the intermediate pressure compartment, fluid responsive means connected to the valve stem and subjected exteriorly to the pressure in the high pressure compartment, and a connection between the interior of said fluid responsive means and the low pressure region whereby the fluid responsive means will actuate the valve stem in response to a differential of pressure thereon and cause fluctuations of the pressure in the intermediate pressure chamber, thereby moving the diaphragm valve between full open and full closed positions.

10. A device as claimed in 9, wherein said pilot valve, when seated, is subjected to a pressure difierential between said control chamber and said low pressure region, which differential is relieved when said pilot valve is opened, so as to amplify the opening movement of said pilot valve and thereby induce the full opening movement of said diaphragm valve.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said diaphragm has a central collar slidably receiving said stem.

RUDOLPH E. KRUEGER, III.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,545,150 Lundberg July 7, 1925 2,041,922 Green May 26, 1936 2,208,554 Price July 16, 1940 2,224,394 Jurs Dec. 10, 1940 2,307,199 Cooper Jan. 5, 1943 2,316,649 Jurs Apr. 13, 1943 2,335,729 Bjergel Nov. 30, 1943 2,399,326 Crot Apr. 30, 1946 2,419,707 Cooper et al. Apr. 29, 1947 2,463,487 Widgery et al. Mar. 1, 1949 2,515,639 Draney July 18, 1950 

